Adobe Systems announced an update to its Adobe Flash Builder 4.5 and Flex 4.5 software to enable developers to build applications for iPhone, iPad and BlackBerry PlayBook; support for Android devices became available in April 2011. The company said that “developers now have a single platform for building highly expressive mobile applications that can be distributed via the Android Market, Apple App Store, and BlackBerry App World.” Flash Builder 4.5 is available standalone or as part of Adobe’s Creative Suite.

The company said that the release accompanies the launch of Adobe’s Digital Enterprise Platform, which it says “enables enterprises to build immersive, multi-channel digital interactions for today’s social and mobile customers.” It notes that businesses are increasingly required to add mobile applications as a core part of their marketing strategy, while IT organisations are looking to build business process, CRM, and other tools to support the broad range of devices and platforms in use. Using Flash Builder and Flex will provide enterprises with one tool, one framework and one codebase to create apps which run on desktops as well as smartphones and tablets.

Adobe said that Flex 4.5 also includes “significant productivity enhancements” that allow developers to rapidly build applications for the desktop, web and “top mobile platforms.” Using best practice code templates, code completion and code generation features in Flash Builder 4.5, the company said that “developers can accelerate the creation of Flex and ActionScript applications and deploy them using Adobe AIR software, Adobe’s runtime for standalone applications.”

The “street price” of Flash Builder 4.5 Standard is US$249, with Flash Builder 4.5 Premium costing US$699. Upgrade pricing for Flash Builder 4.5 is US$49, and volume licensing is available. Flex 4.5 is available as a free open source framework.